Page 10 of Learn Your Limits

Chapter ten

Emiliano

I end my Saturday workday feeling exhausted. I know every start of the semester has its bumps, but this was a particularly large one.

One of the staff members had a family emergency that will keep her out of office for the first few weeks of the semester.

Thankfully, myself and the rest of the psychology department will be able to cover syllabus week in-person to lay a solid foundation for students and take shifts to virtually teach the Developmental Psychology class for a few weeks.

It would increase our workload for this semester at the very start, but it’s not anything we can’t handle as professionals. Still, the scheduling and constant debating we had in our impromptu planning session took it out of me today.

I find I can’t really call it a bad day. Not when I had that breakthrough with Cal earlier. Though I know there might be bumps along the way with him if we choose to pursue what’s building between us.

The chance to breathe presents itself when most of my colleagues are leaving for the evening. I shouldn’t be pulling twelve-hour days like this, especially when the semester hasn’t even begun.

Leaning as far back as I can in my chair, I’m basically lying down at my desk when I take my phone out of my pocket and read through Cal’s messages. I was hoping with our conversation earlier that he would understand it’s been an exhaustingly busy day, and I didn’t intend to not reply to him.

I read through his messages from earlier in the day, directly after our mutual declaration of still being interested in each other. A smirk pulls at the corners of my lips when I read how he wishes I were his professor. As unethical as that situation may be, it stirs my cock just the same.

My mind flashes for a moment with the image of Cal bent over this very desk. Because I still haven’t fully seen his face, my imagination isn’t as lively in conjuring the image, but it’s one that I can appreciate all the same.

I decide to reply and tease him right back.

JustMilo: And why is it you’d like me to be your professor?

JustMilo: They were the usual amount of terrible. Thank you for asking. I was good and managed to stay at the same four cups from earlier.

JustMilo: How did you spend your afternoon, Cal?

Staying reclined in my chair, I close my eyes for a moment and relish in the quiet of the empty building. My phone sits in my lap, now on vibrate while I begin to think of what I’d like for dinner tonight and wait for Cal’s reply.

Feeling the vibration on my lap, I pick up my phone but stay in my reclined position as I read his replies.

CallMeCal: For all the fun extra credit, of course ;)

CallMeCal: I spent the day listening to some friends scream at a TV over old football games. Not exactly my idea of a fun day, but it’s better now that I’m talking to you.

A breathy laugh leaves my lips at his response.

JustMilo: I don’t know if you’d want me as your professor, Muneco. I hear I’m kind of a hardass.

JustMilo: In all honesty, I’m sure it wasn’t very different from hearing some of the other professors drone on about the same thing they do every year.

JustMilo: I’m heading home but catching an Uber because I’m too tired to drive. Would you be open to me calling you on the app and keeping me company on the ride?

I quickly gather my messenger bag and only bring home a minimal amount of work. The semester starts two days from now, and as much as I'd like to be prepared for it, I’d also like to not be an exhausted heap in front of my students on the first day of classes.

Not wanting to be in the building a moment longer, I lock up my office and walk out of the sciences building, nodding to a few colleagues who are still lingering around.

At the front of the building, I’m still waiting for Cal’s reply, even after I check to see that my driver is only a minute away now.

CallMeCal: Sure. Yeah. I’d love to hear your voice.

Well, here we go. I put in my earbuds and hit the call button on my screen. The app’s ringtone only plays for a few seconds before the call connects.

“Hola, Cal.”

“Hey, yourself,” he chuckles nervously.

His voice fills my ears, and it’s like the weight of the day has left my shoulders. It’s deep and soothing, a little rough, but pleasant nonetheless.

“So you’re not a football fan, then?” I ask, knowing I may have to lead the conversation here and being more than okay with it.

“Honestly, I’m not really a sports fan in general. I go to the games when I can to support my friends, but I’d much rather be drawing instead.” He pauses before saying, “Don’t tell me you’re a sports fanatic. This might be over before it even begins.”

“This may be the end of our call, then.” A scoff comes from his end of the phone.

The Uber driver pulls up, and I wave my hand over to him before bursting out into a small laugh.

“Cal, I hate sports. I’m not coordinated enough for them, and I’m not into yelling at my TV screen unless it’s to a character in a horror movie. ”

I hop into the back of the sedan and greet the driver with a polite smile and a small wave, pointing to my headphones to let him know I’m on the phone.

“You had me for a second. I thought I was about to write this off as the shortest relationship I’ve ever had. Can’t say I yell at people in scary movies either, but I’m also usually too busy covering my face to be yelling.”

“Not a fan of scary movies, then?” I ask, interested in every bit of information Cal gives me.

“Cal—hold on a sec, please. I’m starving.

” As enthralled as I am by him, it’s been way too long since I’ve had anything to eat, and I take a second to ask my driver, “My man, have you eaten dinner yet tonight?”

The driver shakes his head in reply and asks me if I’d like to get something on the way home.

“How would you two feel about burgers and fries for dinner?” I ask both of the men. For my driver, it probably seems like a normal request to make. For Cal, I’m not sure how he’ll take my idea without any warning.

A groan comes through his end of the phone. “Fuck, you’re speaking my love language right now.”

“Burgers it is. Fred, would you be open to dropping some food off for my friend after my ride? He’s close to campus, too.

” My headphones are still on, allowing Cal to hear my plans as well.

“I’ll triple your tip, and you’re getting the best damn burger around.

” I think the burly driver’s laugh in agreement is loud enough for Cal to hear.

“Cal, are you still there?” I ask.

“Yeah, I’m here. I’m not hanging up. Thought the whole point of this was that I’m keeping you company until you get home,” he says, a light teasing tone lacing his words.

“And now you’re getting dinner out of it.

Call it your reward,” I tease back. “Fred’s going to need your address, so you'll be losing me for a bit while I hand him my earphones. There’s nothing other than my promise to not listen to your address.

You can give him the general area of your place if that’s more comfortable for you. ”

“My reward for what? Being good? Damn, careful, Professor. I could get used to being spoiled,” he says.

“And I could get used to spoiling you,” I whisper, wanting the comment to only be for him. “Now be a good boy and tell me your order before I hand you off to Fred. We’re almost at the drive-thru.”

“Geeze. Yes, Sir. Double cheeseburger with grilled onions, ketchup, and no spread. Protein style. Extra crispy fries and a Dr. Pepper,” Cal replies, and I swear I hear another moan.

“Don’t get carried away, you still need to tell Fred your address, and I don’t want him hearing those moans,” I demand, adding a bit more bite to my tone than normal.

“What’s wrong, Professor? Never learned how to share as a child?”

“Really funny, Cal. Now, give this angel your address so I can feed you tonight.” With that comment, I take out one earbud and grasp it in my hand while passing the other to my driver.

After a few seconds, he passes it back to me with a nod and a quick comment about how Cal’s place isn’t far from mine at all.

The thought that he’s been nearby for who knows how long exhilarates me.

Adjusting the earbuds back in, I take a moment to just listen to Cal’s breathing on the other end of the phone. It’s almost as if I can hear the teasing way he bites his lip like in the picture he sent me earlier.

“Cal? You can continue your moaning now.”